Five years since the emergence of the COVID-19 virus, symbols of the pandemic peak – daily press conferences, mandatory quarantine, grounded flights and closed school gates – are distant memories.
Yet COVID remains the leading cause of acute respiratory infection deaths in Australia, contributing to 3,211 deaths so far in 2024 (as at 31 July).
A significant number of COVID cases go unreported due to reduced testing; however, the federal Department of Health has still been notified of over a quarter of a million cases this year.
Schools have been identified as a perfect transmission environment for airborne viruses. A U.S. study found more than 70 per cent of COVID transmissions in homes began with an infected school-age child.
Given the ease of transmission in schools, it invites the question of whether school leaders are doing enough to manage the risks associated with COVID.
Improving COVID safety in schools
Brisbane-based science communication professional Colin Kinner said schools are certainly facing challenges in how to respond to COVID.
“I think there’s some complacency,” he said.
“By and large, schools haven’t been given a lot of really good guidance.”
With the aim of providing that guidance, Kinner developed a free online course – COVID Safety for Schools – to help schools reduce transmission of the virus.
“Humans run schools, and humans are influenced by what they read, hear, and see.
“The reality is that there’s a lot of misinformation around about COVID, and school leaders – like a lot of the community – have been exposed to misinformation, and I think it has influenced their thinking.”
“For example, many schools are still focusing on hand hygiene and surface cleaning, despite the fact that we now know COVID is airborne and is spread primarily via inhalation of virus particles.”
Kinner consulted with 20 internationally recognised experts to develop the 10-module COVID Safety for Schools course.
“A big part of [the course] is to make sure that people have access to accurate information so they can make good decisions,” he said.
Kinner said a key issue with schools’ approach to COVID was treating it like a mild respiratory illness.
“If you look at the facts, [COVID] hasn’t become a mild respiratory illness, not by any stretch,” he said.
“While most kids do recover from the acute infection pretty well, not all of them do.
“There have been some deaths, there are some kids that are hospitalised, kids can get Long COVID, and a COVID infection in kids can almost double their risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
“So those are pretty serious, long-term health risks.”
A “mismatch” between the known impacts of the virus and behaviours in schools worries Kinner as a parent and in terms of the impacts on teachers and school staff.
“If you’re a child, you have to go to school,” Kinner said.
“Similarly for teachers, schools are a workplace, and workplaces should be doing everything possible to make it safe for staff.
“And I think, generally speaking, that’s not happening.”
COVID Safety for Schools outlines practical strategies to reduce transmission, including improving air quality, encouraging mask-wearing in high-risk settings, and implementing testing and isolation where appropriate.
Kinner hopes to see as many school staff as possible undertake the course or its accompanying webinars.
“Ultimately, it’s about the health of teachers and students and their families,” he said.
“The end game is to protect people’s health and prevent deaths and people suffering serious chronic illnesses.”
Find out more about the program at www.covidsafetyforschools.org
COVID and WH&S
IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 could not be ignored.
“Some employers may prefer to consider COVID a problem of the past, but the virus hasn’t gone away and its impacts are still with us,” he said.
“Teachers and school support staff were a backbone of the community early in the pandemic, continuing to educate students during periods of high transmission and adapting to remote learning in a significant workload commitment.
“Many employees would be rightly disappointed with how COVID is currently being managed after all of that.”
Mr Burke said like any risk in the workplace, COVID was a workplace health and safety (WHS) issue.
“Employers have a duty of care under WHS laws to eliminate risks to health and safety or reduce them as far as practicable,” he said.
“With this understanding, questions like, ‘are there appropriate infection controls in place?’, ‘are relevant policies fit for purpose and being adhered to?’ and ‘is classroom ventilation adequate?’ are reasonable ones.”
Mr Burke said strong employee representation on WHS issues was essential.
“When employers become complacent, employee representation on WHS issues is often the only way to resolve concerns.
“Employees have rights under WHS laws, especially when they are elected as employee health and safety representatives (HSRs).
“HSRs have the right to investigate complaints, inquire into risks, inspect the workplace and receive information from the employer regarding WHS matters.
“They are also entitled to training and support in paid time to carry out their role.
“I encourage members who would like to become more involved with WHS matters to reach out to their HSR or work to elect a HSR if there isn’t one for their work area.
“Knowledgeable and dedicated HSRs mean safer workplaces – and that’s in everyone’s best interest.”
Our union has a host of WHS resources to support members in becoming HSRs and dealing with WHS concerns. Access the WHS hub by visiting www.myieu.org.au
Members can also contact our union for advice and support on WHS concerns.